WEST BOYLSTON, Massachusetts - Dayna Bordeleau hopes the doctors at the Mayo Clinic find something wrong with her. That way they will be able to treat her baffling illness. Dayna, a professional braider, first became ill with severe intestinal infections in the fall of 2001. Since that time she has been in and out of five hospitals where a battery of medical tests have ruled out everything from Lupus to Crohn's Disease to colon cancer.

The American Hunter-Jumper Foundation learned of Dayna's plight through her friend James Lala and has made a disbursement of $3,500 to help her with living expenses. In the time that she has been unable to work Dayna estimates lost income well in excess of $10,000.

"Dayna is just a great person and an unbelievably hard worker," says Lala. "She manages all my braiding and I never have to worry about a thing. I know all the horses will be done perfectly and on time." Lala explains that Dayna goes out of her way to be helpful. "At one show I was complaining that the horses' names were written on pieces of masking tape. "Dayna took it upon herself to go out and get index cards and rewrote all the names neatly."

Dayna and her husband, JP, expect to travel to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. from their home in Mississippi early in April. At that time Dayna will definitely undergo a re-scope and possibly surgery to remove tumors in her colon. "JP and I are both very appreciative of the financial assistance the AHJF has given us. We've both been in the horse business for years and it makes you feel good to know your fellow horsemen are helping you," says Dayna.

"The Emergency Relief Fund has helped so many self-employed people in our business," says Lala. "Hunter riders really need to support the AHJF because the Foundation is there for us with these kind of programs that look at the whole industry and into the future," he explains.

Since its establishment in 1995, the Emergency Relief Fund has assisted many horsepeople in a wide variety of situations. Some of the most recent recipients include Jack Miller, a highly respected farrier who suffered a heart attack; Larry Larson, a California rider and trainer who suffered from a rare and extremely disabling genetic disease; and USET stable manager, Karen Golding, who suffered a badly broken and separated ankle. The AHJF Board reviews emergency situations that are brought to their attention, and approves distributions according to the Fund's guidelines and the particular needs of the recipient.

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the AHJF Emergency Relief Fund to help fellow horsemen and women like Dayna. Call 508-835-8813 or e-mail AHJF@aol.com.